Marshall Steinbaum — Piketty versus Hassett: a primer on after-tax income and inequality

In short, income-redistribution policies failed to counteract growing income stratification over the past four decades. What’s more, these policies did less to equalize post-tax income now than it did in percentage terms in 1979, directly contradicting Hassett’s contention. Indeed, all the studies that have been done confirm the magnitude of income inequality as it has evolved whether you’re looking at pre- or post-tax-and-transfer income. Hassett should go back to defending inequality as economically efficient—at least that argument isn’t refutable with a swift look at the data.

WCEG — The Equitablog
Piketty versus Hassett: a primer on after-tax income and inequality
Marshall Steinbaum